An out-of-state environmental political action committee is throwing support to an underdog candidate in the crowded Democratic U.S. Senate primary.

Climate Hawks Vote PAC, a group registered in Agoura Hills, Calif., according to Federal Election Commission records, announced their backing of Sellus Wilder on Friday.

In a blog post, the group said it is “delighted to endorse a remarkably honest progressive who sees the irreversible decline of the coal industry — in Kentucky.”

“Wilder is no Alison Grimes, the Democrat who ran as a Republican-lite against Kentucky’s other senator, Mitch McConnell, in 2014 — we wouldn’t endorse if he was,” the endorsement post reads. “Grimes made it clear that she strongly opposed Obama’s ‘war on coal,’ and wouldn’t even say if she voted for Obama in 2012.

“Wilder has the political courage to tell Kentucky that Obama’s EPA isn’t to blame for the decline of coal, to call for a just transition for Kentuckians.”

According to an April filing with the FEC, Climate Hawks Vote Political Action has $28,492 cash-on-hand and multiple endorsements across a busy election year.

Wilder, a farmer and former Frankfort city commissioner, has also been endorsed by Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. He took part in a recent fundraiser co- hosted by Louisville philanthropist and Democratic fundraiser Christy Brown.

Wilder faces six other Democrats in the nominating contest including Lexington Mayor Jim Gray who announced this week he has $1.5 million cash-on-hand to run for the seat currently held by Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul. Gray is backed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

About Nick Storm

Nick Storm is the Anchor and Managing Editor of Pure Politics, the only nightly program dedicated to Kentucky politics. Nick covers all of the political heavyweights and his investigative work brings to light issues that might otherwise go unnoticed, like the connection between the high profile Steubenville, Ohio rape and a Kentucky hacker whose push for further investigation could put him in federal prison. Nick is also working on a feature length bio documentary Outlaw Poet: A documentary on Ron Whitehead. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickStorm_cn2. Nick can be reached at 502-792-1107 or nicholas.storm@charter.com.